Power-line bill at Pataki's hand

Albany — A bill that could hurt the chances of a power line strung on 11-story towers proposed for our region is in Gov. George Pataki's hands. And the lawmaker sponsoring it likes the odds of Pataki signing it.

By Steve Israel

recordonline.com

By Steve Israel

Posted Sep. 26, 2006 at 2:00 AM

By Steve Israel
Posted Sep. 26, 2006 at 2:00 AM

For the most complete information about the New York Regional Interconnect power line, including maps and details of the route, log onto http://archive.recordonline.com/news/special_reports/nyri/

Albany — A bill that could hurt the chances of a power line strung on 11-story towers proposed for our region is in Gov. George Pataki's hands. And the lawmaker sponsoring it likes the odds of Pataki signing it.

The bill that blocks New York Regional Interconnect from taking land by eminent domain to build its 190-mile line was given to Pataki on Friday.

After a recent hour-long lunch meeting with the governor over sandwiches and omelets, state Sen. John Bonacic, R-C-Mount Hope, its sponsor, feels that Pataki could make it law within the nine days he now has to sign it.

"I'm optimistic because of the fact that he took the time to discuss it and acknowledged our point of view," said Bonacic. "Normally, he doesn't spend time talking about a bill if he doesn't like it."

If Pataki doesn't sign it, the state Legislature could try to override his veto.

Bonacic hopes it won't come to that, even though he says Pataki — now the target of an anti-power-line campaign — "keeps his cards close to his vest."

"It resonated with him that one region is getting hurt at the expense of another," he said about the line that would bring power to New York City and the lower Hudson Valley and slice through Orange and Sullivan counties.

The final form of the law applies only NYRI. Although thousands of people along the route are against the project and support the bill, the bill was opposed by power industry-groups and key lawmakers who said it would discourage future energy projects.

"It's bad public policy and bad on the merits," Gavin Donahue, head of the Independent Power Producers of New York. "We don't see how it could withstand judicial scrutiny."

That the bill reached Pataki's desk before Election Day was a bit of a surprise. Albany insiders had expected the Senate to sit on the legislation until after Nov. 7.

Even if the bill becomes law, it might not stop NYRI. It could bypass the state and win new federal powers to allow it to take private land. The company could also challenge Bonacic's bill in court.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it," NYRI spokesman Jonathan Pierce said.

Staff writers John Milgrim and Brendan Scott contributed to this report.